Temecula City Councilman Mike Naggar was appointed to the board of the Inland Regional Center, an agency that lends support to more than 25,000 people with developmental disabilities in the Inland Empire, his office said Friday.
The IRC is a nonprofit agency that helps people in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
“I am honored to have been considered and appointed to this distinguished organization; and I plan to bring a dual perspective of both a parent and a community leader to ensure that resources are available to those families in need," the mayor pro tem said in a released statement.
The IRC is the largest of the 21 regional centers in the State of California and is under contract with the California Department of Developmental Services.
The IRC has been providing services in the Inland Empire since 1972, officials with the agency said.
Temecula is considered a regional leader in raising the awareness of the special needs community and providing specialized education and training for the residents of this region.
The city is credited with the creation of the Regional Autism Task Force. This effort brought together elected officials from Riverside County and cities within southwest Riverside County.
Successful programs born from this effort include the development of a Special Needs Resource Guide for the region that can be accessed here; additional programs designed and implemented to assist the special needs community include:
- Community educational forums that raise awareness
- Parent/caregiver educational forums and support
- Recreational and enrichment programs
- Inclusive training opportunities for City employees/volunteers
- Special Games
- Inclusive employment/internship opportunities
- Building new and existing partnerships with the County of Riverside and non-profit agencies
Naggar could not be reached Friday.
